Cyber Community

Keywords

Community: the area where we live, with places where we know real people.
Cyber Community: a website where we visit, learn, playgames
Cyber Citizen: People who actively participate in a cyber community
Cyber Smart: Making good, smart choices when in a cyber community
Responsible Citizen: A person who uses their cyber smarts
Email: a way of communicating through cyberspace
Hoax: an email sent from a stranger that is false and could contain a virus
Scam: an email that is sent to you that tries to steal your personal information
Virus: When your computer becomes "sick"- usually sent in an email attachment
Spam: inappropriate email sent by strangers

Grade 1

• Students identify how people get from place to place in the real community.
• Cyberspace is described as a community that contains places to visit, just like in the real community. It is called the cyber community.
• Introduction of the term “Website” to describe places in the Cyber community.
• Students identify how kids get around in Cyberspace as (1) by using the Internet, (2) with adult assistance.
• A short story about I-Buddy prompts students to create a rule to reinforce the idea that if they get lost on the Internet, they should get help from an adult.
• A citizen is described as a member of a community.
• The term “cyber citizen” is used to describe a person who is in the Cyber community (using the Internet).
• The similarity between community rules and Cyber community rules is identified.
• Parents are identified as the primary educators who make rules to keep their children safe when in the physical community and when using computers and the Internet.
• Students describe being good cyber citizens as using adult assistance when on the computer.
• The saying “Cyber Smart is Cyber Safe” is used to reinforce the lesson concepts.

Grade 2

• Community is also identified as a group of people who like the same things.
• A community has rules to help keep its citizens safe. A good citizen is one who knows and follows the rules of a community.
• An activity introduces the concept that the following community rules can also apply to the Internet:
  • Do not lie
  • Do not cheat
  • Do not steal
  • Do not hurt others
• Call an adult if you need help
• Good citizens are also called responsible citizens.
• Identification of people in the community who help keep others safe.
• Community rules/laws are compared to Internet use rules.

Grade 3

• Place in communities are identified by addresses.
• An Internet address is called a URL.
• Terminology introduction and discussion: appropriate and inappropriate
• Inappropriate places in the community, and on the Internet, are described as places that are not suitable for kids.
• Concept introduction: inappropriate equals unsafe.
• Age-appropriate descriptions of inappropriate websites
• Concept introduction: inappropriate website can be accessed through e-mail.
• E-mail is a way people communicate online by sending written letters.
• Appropriate e-mail is a fun way to communicate with people you know.
• Even if e-mail is not used very much yet at this age, the important thing to remember is that students should follow the rules for Internet and e-mail use that parents have established.
• Age-appropriate strategy to get out of inappropriate websites is described as:
  • Click the ‘X’ (close box) in the corner of the web page.

Grade 4

• Some types of e-mail are inappropriate e-mails.
• Inappropriate e-mails are described briefly as threatening or mean e-mails, hoaxes, scams and SPAM.
• Definitions for inappropriate e-mails are described with age-appropriate terminology.
• Ways to handle inappropriate e-mail that may be received are described in the following ways:
  • Don’t open e-mail from people you don’t know.
  • It’s a good idea to ask for permission from an adult before you open any e-mail.
  • If an e-mail contains inappropriate materials delete it.
  • Never reply to SPAM e-mail
• Concept introduction: inappropriate websites can be fixed so that responsible cyber citizens cannot get out of them very easily.
• Additional strategies to get out of inappropriate websites are described as:
  • Click the back arrow
  • If all else fails, turn off the system completely.

References: http://www.isafe.org